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Last Modified on Oct 11, 2025
Choosing to drive while intoxicated (DWI) can result in life-changing penalties and consequences not just for you, but for others whom you may inadvertently harm with your choices. It’s vital that you retain legal help in determining your defense. You ultimately don’t know how your case can go. Without a lawyer, it’s likely that you will lose your case and face harsh penalties. If you’re facing DWI charges in Fort Bend County, you should hire legal help.
It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed and confused about what to do next when you end up charged with a DWI. First and foremost, you should hire a Fort Bend DWI attorney who can help you put together a viable defense strategy. You will want someone with extensive experience handling DWI cases like yours, as well as someone who fully understands the state’s DWI laws as they apply to your case. Our firm can provide you with the resources you need to see this through.
Hire a DWI Lawyer
One of the most important things you can do for your case is hire a DWI lawyer who understands your position and can offer you legitimate legal help. The legal team at Greco Neyland has considerable experience helping individuals with their criminal defense cases. Our founding partners, Jeff Greco and Dustan Neyland, have worked with prosecutors in the past, meaning they understand how the system works on both sides. We can bring a focused approach to your case.
According to recent statistical data from the Texas Department of Transportation Traffic Safety Division, nearly 40% of traffic fatalities in Texas between 2014 and 2023 directly involved a driver who was drunk or under the influence of drugs. In Fort Bend County, there were only nine DWI-related fatalities in 2024, according to additional data from the Texas Department of Transportation. If you are charged with a DWI, you need to get a lawyer as soon as you can.
If you have been arrested and charged with drunk driving, it may be time to face certain ugly truths about your behavior. It’s okay to ask for help when you feel like you’ve lost control of the situation. You may want to consider speaking with a local alcohol-related support group like Symetria Recovery or Positive Recovery Centers. Being among others who have been through something similar can put things in perspective for you and give you someone to talk to.
Fort Bend County DWI Laws and Penalties
The DWI laws in Fort Bend County are virtually the same as those in every other county in the state of Texas. It’s important to understand how they apply to your specific case. Under Texas state law, if you are pulled over for suspected drunk driving and found to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher, you will be considered over the legal limit, and you will promptly be arrested. This applies to every vehicle, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even boats.
If you are a first offender, you could end up facing penalties that aren’t as harsh as the ones you may face with multiple offenses. If there are no aggravating factors in your specific case, you could end up facing a loss of your driver’s license for an entire year, a mandatory jail sentence of three days, and fines that could amount to $2,000. If your first offense DWI resulted in serious injury, significant property damage, or death, you will face much harsher penalties.
After a second offense, the fines will increase to $4,000, your potential jail time increases to a month, and your license will be revoked for two years. After a third offense, the penalties become considerably worse and possibly life-altering. Your fines increase to $10,000, your license will still be revoked for two years, and you may end up facing two to 10 years in prison.
FAQs
What Is the Penalty for a First Offense DWI in Texas?
The penalties you could face for a first offense DWI in Texas are quite minimal when compared to the penalties you could face for further offenses. For a first offense DWI with no aggravating factors, you could be looking at a loss of your driver’s license for a year, a mandatory jail sentence of at least three days, and fines that could amount to $2,000. If there are aggravating factors, your penalties will likely be much harsher.
Do I Need a DWI Defense Lawyer in Fort Bend?
Yes, you will need a DWI defense lawyer in Fort Bend. When you are arrested for a suspected DWI, you may think that your case is over and there’s no way you can fight back—that’s simply not the case. It’s important that you take the proper steps to protect yourself, and that includes hiring a lawyer to help you build a strong defense. The right lawyer’s help can often prove to be invaluable in more ways than one.
Is DWI Worse Than DUI in Texas?
Yes, a DWI charge is worse than a DUI charge in Texas. In many states, DWI and DUI are used interchangeably to describe the same offense. It’s different in Texas. A DWI charge carries much more severe penalties and applies to a much broader range of individuals. A DUI (driving under the influence) only applies to minors under 21 years of age in Texas who have any amount of detectable alcohol in their system while behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Is a Second DWI Offense Considered a Felony in Fort Bend?
No, a second DWI offense is generally not considered a felony in Fort Bend unless there are aggravating circumstances specific to the case at hand. These circumstances include having a minor child in the car at the time of the offense or causing a bad accident that results in injury, death, or significant property damage. A second DWI offense is still seen as a misdemeanor if there are no aggravating factors.
Reach Out to Us Today
At Greco Neyland, we can provide you with the right resources to fight the DWI charges you’re facing. Contact us to speak to someone on our team about what we can do to help.
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